ICC Prosecutor Establishes Office in Venezuela, Vows Enhanced Collaboration

Fresh Take:

International Criminal Court (ICC) chief Karim Khan jetted off to Caracas, Venezuela, on a mission to meet with President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials. Khan's aim? To team up with the Venezuelan government and establish a working plan to probe alleged human rights violations, all while signing cooperative agreements with various state entities, as announced on ICC's social media. The Hague-based court resumed its investigation against Venezuela after the Venezuelan government rejected an appeal for a suspension.

Upon landing, Khan unveiled a "technical assistance" office in Venezuela, emphasizing that it was a joint endeavor, not a hidden operation, as initially planned last year. The prosecutor's agenda included appearances at the National Assembly and discussions with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

Venezuela's relationship with the ICC has been tricky, with the Maduro administration praising Khan's office while simultaneously critiquing the probe as biased and driven by political agendas, regarding it as a ploy to instigate regime change. Venezuelan Authorities have insisted that multilateral institutions must respect the country's sovereignty. In February, the Maduro administration ordered the closure of a local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights after accusing its members of inappropriate behavior regarding arrests over alleged coup plots.

The ICC investigation arose from a petition filed by Venezuela's right-wing opposition, backed by Washington and a few allies, accusing the Maduro government of committing crimes against humanity in response to the 2017 anti-government protests. Despite claims by Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab that the investigation is a persecution and lawfare aimed against Venezuela, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I deemed the Venezuelan investigations as directed at lower-level perpetrators, not investigating the contextual elements of crimes against humanity.

Khan also mentioned his intent to tour the country to assess the impact of US-led sanctions on Venezuela, reflecting concerns over sanctions' repercussions. In February 2020, Caracas filed its own lawsuit before the ICC to have sanctions classified as crimes against humanity, although the investigation has yet to progress.

The ICC's image has suffered due to alleged bias, with Khan being accused of refusing to close his probe into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela while rejecting calls to reopen the Court's investigation into crimes against humanity in neighboring Colombia. Khan has likewise been criticized for his muted stance on the ongoing genocide against Palestinians by Israel and the slow pace of his office's investigation into human rights abuses in Palestine.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

Insights:- The ICC's investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela remains active and ongoing, with the current focus on procedural matters related to potential conflicts of interest.- Human rights organizations are intensifying their calls for international accountability in Venezuela, citing post-election crackdowns involving killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions.- The ICC's investigation into potential crimes against humanity in Colombia, commited during the country's long-running internal conflict, has not received equal attention, leading to criticism of the Prosecutor's office's biased approach.- US sanctions against Venezuela could potentially discourage cooperation with the ICC.- The ICC's investigation into possible human rights abuses in Palestine faces criticism for its unresolved status and the slow pace of the investigation.

Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief, announced a collaborative working plan with the Venezuelan government to probe alleged human rights violations, as part of his mission to Caracas.
The ICC's tour, led by Khan, will also involve an assessment of the impact of US-led sanctions on Venezuela, reflecting concerns over their repercussions.
The ICC's investigation in Colombia, primarily focusing on crimes committed during the internal conflict, has not received equal attention, leading to accusations of a biased approach by the Prosecutor's office.
Khan's office in Venezuela is part of a broader effort to address crime and justice issues, falling under the general news and crime-and-justice categories.
Khan's visit to Colombia, along with addressing the ICC's principle of ensuring accountability for war-and-conflicts-related crimes, is crucial to addressing political and policy-and-legislation concerns.